Bottle-cap remover.



S. T. WHITAKER & R. B. SMALL.

BOTTLE GAP REMUVER.

APiLlCATlO N FILED DEC. 4. IBIS.

Patented May 21, 1918.

wrlinesses 3, 3, the lower UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patentedlllayfil, 1918.

Application filed'llecember 4, mic. 'SerihlNo: 135,025.

To all *w kom it may concern Belt known that we, SAMUEL T.WHITA- KER and RALPH B. SMALL, citizens of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Muscogeeand StateofGreorgia, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Bottle-Gap Removers; and we do hereby-declare the following to'be a full, clear,and exact description of-the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for removing crimped caps from bottles or other like covers from similar containers.

The object in View is the provision of such an apparatus as will effect its functions with maximum efficiency and Without danger of injury to the bottle or other container.

With this and further objects in viewas will-in part hereinafter become apparent and in part be stated, the invention comprises ce'rtain novel constructions, combinaationsand arrangements of partsas subsequently specified and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings,-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of anapparatus embodying the features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical, central section taken therethrough.

Fig. 3 is a View in side elevation thereof.

Fig. 4 is a View similarto Fig. 2 of a slightly modified'embodiment of the invention.

"Referring to the drawing by numerals, 1 indicates a wall or other support to which is fixed a plate 2 having outstanding flanges ortions of which diverge downwardly and also diverge outwardly. The flangesB are bent-laterally at 4:, ipapproximately midway of their length, that is,"at the uppertemninus of the downwardly diverging portions, and the 'upper portions which extend above the curve or bend 4 are arranged to extend in planes with the inner edges 5, 5 parallel and the plates themselves flaring outward with respect to each other and "outstanding frqmth-e rplate 2 so as to form wings 6, 6. The wings ii' extend on an incline away from the vertical plane of the wall 1 and to the outer face of the plate. The plate 2 extends upwardly beyond a line corresponding with a straight line connecting the bends 4* and *is provided with an inclined shoulder or offset 7 to receive the outer face of the cap as hereinafter described. Thisshoulder may be 'produced in various ways, but'since as a matter of facility and economy in manufacture-the entire structu-reis to be struck from asingle sheet of-=1netal, the offset 7 is preferably produced by a portion of the plate 2 being folded back upon itself, as at 7', and the shoulder being formed from the exposed edgeof the plate.

In the course of the manufacture of the embodiment of the invention specifically herein illustrated. ashcet of appropriate material, such as sheet iron, is cut to the requisite size and then slit to correspond with the edges of the upwardly extending portion of plate 2. Theflanges?) and wings 6 are then-bent into shape and the portion 7 is folded toforin the shoulder 7. The apparatus is thenready for use except for such fastening means as may be required, which maybe provided fo'r'by merely forming apertures in the plate-2 for receiving screws or other like securing means.

The angle-at which the wings 6 outstand from the plane of the outer face of plate 2 may varysomewhat, but should be such as to enable an effective gnipping of a bottle cap between the edges 5' of the wings 6 and the shoulder 7.

In operation, the upper end of a bottle neck is inserted between the free ends of the wings 6, and since the said wings converge inwardly, the neck is introduced easily and without danger of injury. The introduction of the-neck between the wings 6 is followed by amovementof the neck downward to the position indicated in Fig. 2, where the crimped cap has its outer face resting against the shoulder 7 and its edges engaged at diametrically opposite points by the edges 5 of the wings 6. As a test of efficiency o fthe" apparatus for demonstrating that it will not injure, crack or break any portion of the bottle neck, the bottle may be" left supported in the, position 'ust described, as indicated-in Fig. 2. here is no strain whatever exerted against any por- -tionof--the-glass or other material of which the hottle is formed. Sliverin or other injury is thus effectively avoi ed. To remove the cap when the parts are in the position described, it is only necessary to press the bottle downward, the neck will move freely downward and outward between the wings (i, the outward divergence of which assures complete freedom in the movement of the neck and prevents any possible injury thereto. The cap being effectively gripped between the edges 5 of wings 6 and the shoulder 7 remains therebetween until the bottle has been removed and then the cap may be brushed to one side by the operator, there being nothing to prevent the movement of the cap in an edgewise direction.

In the structure seen in Figs. 1 to 3 the operation involves the application of the bottle and its cap after the manner indicated in Fig. 2, wherein the cap contacts with the shoulder 7, but employment of the shoulder is essential only when the wings 6 are set at such an angle outstanding from the face of plate 2 as would permit the exposed surface of the cap to slide upwardly along the face of the plate 2 during the prying movement incident to depression of the bottle carrying the cap. The shoulder 7 effectively prevents such movement and thus insures removal of the cap from the bottle. In Fig. 4: the need for the shoulder 7 is obviated by providing flanges 3 having wings 6 with their edges 5 spaced from the outer face of the plate 2 a distance equal approximately to the width of the flange of the crimped cap, the edges 5' extending substantially parallel or at a very slight angle to the outer face of plate 2. The operation of the structure is the same as above described, except that the crimp cap lies substantially flatwise against the plate 2 and is not in a position such as permits the cap to have any sliding movement with respect to plate 2, whereby downward movement of the bottle after the cap is positioned causes the edges of the flange of the cap to engage the edges 5 so as to be retained thereby against movement while the bottle is moved away from the cap.

What we claim is 1. A crimped cap remover comprisin a plate having outstanding flanges attac ed to the plate at one end and having their inner edges spaced from the plate at the opposite ends to receive the edge of a. crimped cap thereagainst.

2. A crimped cap remover comprising a plate having outstandin flanges their lower end portions rom the plate and having the inner edges of their upper ortions spaced from the plate to accommo ate a bottle cap therebetween.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for bent at five cents each, by addressing the 3. A. crimped cap remover comprising a plate having outstanding flaring flanges bent at substantially right angles from the plate at their lower ends and having upper ree end portions bent obliquely to the lower ends of the flanges and having their inner edges spaced from the plate to accommodate a bottle cap between the plate and the free ends.

1. A crimped cap remover comprising an integral plate formed into outstanding wings shaped to receive a bottle neck therebetween. the line of connection between the outstanding wings and the plate being interrupted at the ends of the wings to receive a crimped cap between the plate and the wings with the inner edges of the wings engaging the free edge of the flange of a crimp-ed cap, the said plate being also provided with a cooperating shoulder spaced from said wings, a distance for receiving the cap between the wings and the shoulder for retaining the cap against movement as the bottle is being withdrawn from the cap.

5. A crimped cap remover comprising an integral plate formed into outstanding wings shaped to receive a bottle neck and provided with edges adapted to engage the free edge of the flange of a crimped cap, the said plate being also provided with a cooperating shoulder spaced from said wings a distance for receiving the cap between the wings and the shoulder for retaining the cap against movement as the bottle is being withdrawn from the cap, the said wings being flared outward to leave the bottle neck free for removal without contact with said wings.

6. A crimped cap remover comprisin an integral plate formed into outstan in wings shaped to receive a bottle neck an provided with edges adapted to engage the free edge of the flange of a crimped cap, the said plate being also provided with a cooperating shoulder spaced from said wings a distance for receiving the cap between the wings and the shoulder for retaining the cap against movement as the bottle is eing withdrawn from the cap, the I portion folded upon itself said shoulder.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL T. WHITAKER. RALPH B. SMALL. Witnesses:

H. (3. MCGUTCHEON, SARAH Wnnm.

late having a or producing "Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0." 

